Help on Buying my PC some upgrades

[Redfish]

Ok guys here's the deal. You already see from my system specs that it has much left to be desired. Luckily I have a friend coming down from the states in June and she offered to bring down some goodies once I tell her what it is I need.

I don't want a ridiculous PC but just something a bit better than what I have now.

I was pondering what to get since my budget is tight(I'm not working)

Thinking of either a processor + heatsink upgrade

AMD Athlon Dual-Core 5000+

Arctic Cooling Heatsink

Or should I go for the graphics card(512MB) or ram(DDR2 2gigs)

I am torn in terms of price if to get the 8800GT or stay with a 8600GT but also if to just take a 9600GT

And well for RAM I was looking at this

Cosair 2GB PC6400 800MHz

Any thoughts? 

[W1nTry]

Before we can recommend effective upgrades (since it's upgrades and not OVERHAUL) we need more details about ur Motherboard and price range. Information on these two things can help us determine ur best upgrade path (AM2 socket? overclocking potential? Phenom compatibility?, etc)

[Crixx_Creww]

...

do you own a sledgehammer or say a very large toilet??

[Redfish]

Oh my bad, well this is my board  ECS Elitegroup GeForce6100SM-M2

Yes it's an AM2 socket and can support AMD /Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core/ Athlon 64/Sempron processors  and I looked in the BIOS and saw that some tinkering can be done with the clock speed(I think I saw voltage too) but I'm scared to try overclocking unless I have live supervision lol.

My budget will be approx $1000-$1300(depending on how much I can get for selling the part being replaced)

So I was looking to either go the Processor + Heatsink route, Graphics card alone or just a Ram change(yea I know I need a job...)

And no Crixx I don't have any of the said items lol

[W1nTry]

Well I've never really read reviews using ECS and I know they are a budget brand, so even if you were somewhat into OCing... I just doh trust it. That aside, it means you need to go faster STOCK than rely on OCing. That being said, as far as gaming goes, the delta in terms of performance above 2.2GHz is linear and small unless you change platform altogether. What I am deluding to is I would suggest starting at a 2.2GHz X2 and potentially RAM. For more indept details check ur PM.

[TriniXaeno]

Hmm,

What games are you into?

Your system spec isn't particularly bad. It's not top ten material for sure but I think the games you're into would help determine where best to spend your upgrade $$.

The easiest upgrade to make: RAM.

Very cheap and very easy to do and improves overall system performance.

In your case, grab another gig of DDR goodness.

If you're mainly an FPS guy, go for the 8800 GT. That genre is generally more graphics intensive than cpu intensive.

If you're into RTS games, then forgo the graphics card upgrade and get your CPU up to Athlon 64 6000 level. The AI and path finding code in RTS games can really tax your processor.


Either way, the upgrade would probably set you back $2000.00. Sell your 8400GS to make up the difference in your budget (as well as wash some cars)

If you're going for anything less intense, you might as well wait until your budget has increased to get some game worthy components. Quality parts that you won't regret.

[Redfish]

W1ntry:

Yeah well I don't really intend to get into the overclocking thing but yea I was really leaning to getting the processor and ram(may have to chill with my kingston 1gig for now)

I just wanted to know if that dual-core 5000+ was a good choice since it's clocked at 2.6ghz and is for 87us on the link in my first post.

Was hopin to had sumn to secure me for a while cause I don't intend to be running to buy a new cpu every minute..

Will check mih pm

NoobGoneWild:

Yea well I'm into FPS,racing etc cause I've got stuff like UT3,HL 2 ep 2, COD4 kinda stuff...

The thing is I can't up the graphics too much or else stuff will play like crap for example Assasin's Creed so I was wondering if it really was my no so hot processor cause I can play games like UT3,COD4 with high settings on the graphics smoothly(did some tinkering in the nvidia control panel heheh)

I was really planning to wait till I get myself the right funds(approx 5000tt) to do the changes to Power Supply,CPU,G-card,RAM,LCD flatscreen and a 500gig SATA HD with other goodies but until I land the job that will have to wait.

The reason why I was asking what to get is cause I don't have contacts to bring down stuff for me from that states and my friend she's coming down in like June so I was takin to opportunity to get something.

[W1nTry]

The 5000+ Black Ed. Is a fantastic cpu, just it comes without a HSF and the real reason to get it, IS FOR OVERCLOCKING. That's what it was made for. So I would say buy the comparative STOCK 2.6GHz X2 if that's the case as it will come with a HSF. That aside you will need a CPU of a certain level for the GPU to really make gains. As I had mentioned 2.2GHz is the standard more or less. You need AT LEAST that for the GPU to be able to function decently. I suggest upgrading the CPU and RAM as I have suggested and then consider the video card.

[TriniXaeno]

The only thing you need to worry about in terms of getting stuff from the states is the duty and vat that may or may not apply.

We can always import the items for you. That's being done all the time.

That said, the cheapest option is always having family bring it in as you can avoid not only duty and vat but also shipping costs.

Penny saved is a penny earned! lol

Stick with your original $5000.00 upgrade plan and only spend money now on components that are a part of that plan.

So say the 8800 GT is in your $5000.00 upgrade. Buy that now.

You'll enjoy the increased performance benefit today and you can get the accompanying parts (HD, proc, etc...) as money becomes available.

Ditto for the processor. Don't get an intermediary component. Get the processor/mobo that you'd want for the $5000.00 gaming machine.

Do you already have an idea of which components are going into your new monster??

If not, look to the "build noob a rig" thread. Got some great advice from the tech gurus on the site in there.

http://www.carigamers.com/cms/forums/index.php/topic,13984.0.html

Oh and win, seeing that he is already on a 2ghz processor, you don't think going to 2.2ghz is too minor a jump???

Even with x2 / dual core, he should look to clear about a ghz in clock speed.

[W1nTry]

If he's going with 5K overhaul I would then suggest doing it in ONE shot as opposed to parts. Reason being as he accumulates parts, prices will drop and he'll be kicking himself in the @$$ as time progresses. Also as the way things stand, Intel is the preferred platform and that does NOT fit in with an incremental UPGRADE. So I would suggest noob if thats the case, he just change out completely when he has all the cash. Cause in the time he takes to accumulate the cash prices will drop, new parts will come out and it will work out better AT that point in time with the same 5k.

[TriniXaeno]

Can you put a price on a man's enjoyment of a game?? lol

While he is waiting for say six months to get up to 5K, he could have instead been playing Assassin's Creed at a buttery 60fps with his 8800 GT.

[Redfish]

NoobGoneWild:

Aight well if y'all got the hook up I will definitely need that for the the 5000TT rig but that will be after I get a job and most likely late this year/nxt year but I'm just thinking of for the while.
The reason why I have this average board and processor is cause the previous ones died jus feb gone so I ran and bought what supertech had including the GS card.

I can't afford a 8800GT now so I'm going for the processor+ram since that can easily be sold with the board when I decide if I'm goin intel or staying amd with that big overhaul.

I should be able to get Assasin's creed to run fine if I get that 4400+ and 2gigs a ram man doh fraid lol.

W1nTry:

I shall listen to your words of reason and go for the 2.2ghz for now cause I just not feelin this 3200+ like I said I'm not a gaming freak and when I start to work there'll be less time to "Bun Game"  lol. Yeah that one time buy everyting is what I gonna do, might just be joining the intel camp too 

[TriniXaeno]

I still not feeling that upgrade from a 2ghz A64 3200 cpu to a 2.2 ghz cpu

At least a 2.6ghz, if not a 3ghz.

but you definitely can't go wrong with the ram upgrade!

[W1nTry]

Well noob you seem to be forgetting that he's also going from a 2GHz SINGLE core to a 2.2GHz dual core AND he's upgrading the memory to suite.

[TriniXaeno]

the mem upgrade is beautiful

but dual core only applies in specific cases. raw ghz applies across the board.

[Arcmanov]

I concur...

Your RAM choice is fine, but for the CPU, Athlon 64 X2 5000 Black Edition. 
Its only a few dollars more than the X2 4400, and is a MUCH better value.

As shown here, its a great upgrade solution for AM2, and will work very nicely with the 8800 GT
if and when you decide to get it.

[W1nTry]

Yall keep failing to realize the man has a budget AND the BE whilst a BEAUTIFUL CPU has NO HSF. I did mention that if it is he wants a MHz increase without OCing (which is HIS POSITION) that it would make more sense to get a standard 2.6GHz X2 and NOT the BE. Cause it would INHERENTLY make sense to get a DECENT cooling solution which will EASILY add an additional 30-50USD to the price of the CPU making it out of his cost range.

[Redfish]

Ok you see guys the thing is I'm a lil strapped for cash hence the redish needs a job thread in the Rum Shop lol. Yeah what W1ntry said lol so I'm getting a lil confused here..

Arcman if I do go for that 5000+ it would mean I'd have to buy an after market heatsink which is gonna add on the pesos to this purchase of CPU+RAM.

My plan was to sell my RAM and CPU+stock heatsink to help me break even when I have to pay for the goodies.

So right now I'm at a loss here... I'm not sure how much I would be able to sell my stuf for, my best guess selling them would be hopefully around $500tt or $600tt if I'm lucky but I just wanted something better than 2ghz to have me comfy till I do that mad overhaul..

My little 3200+ hauls ass trust me, just wanted that extra kick in the system to not worry about stuttering in games or slow downs that's all

If you can find a sweet deal somewhere for that 5000+ black edition(cheapest I saw it was on amazon for 78us cause on newegg it's for 99us) and a decent cheapish aftermarket heatsink then I'll go that route but I may have to leave out the ram upgrade if I do that...

[Arcmanov]

OK, then this X2 4600 will have to suffice till then.  Comes with the normal AMD HSF, and is quite a bit
better than your current CPU.

This way, you can still have enough for the RAM.

My personal opinion however would have been to scrape up enough to upgrade the GPU
to at least a 9600 GT first, and then RAM.  I always consider CPU upgrades as the lowest
priority if I'm really strapped for cash.


So...consider your options. (considering you're working with at least $1000 TT)

2 GB Corsair DDR2-800 (PC6400) in particular, the Tigerdirect price.  Pretty good, I might add.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 

GeForce 9600 GT

You may not be able to get all three, so it may come down to video-card only...or CPU+RAM.

Fellow techs...what do you think?

[TriniXaeno]

Hmmm, video card gets my vote.

Which will have the greater impact on his 3dmark 2006 score? I suspect graphics card.